Floating body amusement device

ABSTRACT

An amusement device including a transparent container substantially filled with a liquid having a cylindrical game piece immersed therein tending to float towards the upper surface thereof, and a tubular operator element operationally longitudinally moveably extending downwardly through a container opening cap element into the liquid. The operator element has a lower interior portion formed as a recess to substantially snugly receive the cylindrical game piece, and the operator element includes means to eject the game piece from the recess. The object of the device is to cause the game piece to enter the operator element recess in the shortest possible time. Substantially floatable spherical objects of the same diameter as the game piece may also be immersed in the liquid to make the objective of the device more difficult to attain.

[ Oct. 17, 1972 DEVICE Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle [72] Inventor:Terry S. Bullard, 6268 Hudson Anomey Maxwell Garson Avenue, Norfolk, Va.23502 [57] ABSTRACT Sept 1971 An amusement device including atransparent container substantially filled with a liquid having acylindrical game piece immersed therein tending to float 273/1 L towardsthe upper surface thereof, and a tubular I t Cl A'63f 9/06 operatorelement operationally longitudinally n R l L. moveably extendingdownwardly through a container [91 opening cap element into the liquid.The operator element has a lower interior portion formed as a recess tosubstantially snugly receive the cylindrical game piece, References cuedand the operator element includes means to eject the UNITED STATESPATENTS game piece from the recess. The object of the device is to causethe game piece to enter the operator element recess in the shortestpossible time. Substantiall floatable spherical objects of the samediameter as th United States Patent Bullard [54] FLOATING BODY AMUSEMENT22] Filed:

[21 Appl.No.: 178,091

[58] Field of Search..........

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FLOATING BODY AMUSEMENT DEVICE This invention relates generally to anamusement device, and more particularly to a device of this type inwhich an operator element having a lower portion provided with a recessand extending into a liquid is manipulated to cause a particular gamepiece immersed in the liquid to enter the operator element recess.

Amusement devices known heretofore have included a game piece or piecesfreely moveable in a liquid enclosed within a suitable container whichis manipulated to induce the game piece or pieces to enter a suitablerecess also moveable in the liquid, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 449,748granted to Edward P. Roberts on Apr. 7, 1891, or to enter a suitablyfixed recess or recesses positioned in the liquid, as shown in U.S. Pat.No. 976,371 granted to Walter C. Jeans et al. on Nov. 22, 1910 and inU.S. Pat. No. 2,746,757 granted on May 22, 1956 to John G. Frost.Another and analogous type of amusement device known previously isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 459,868 granted on Sept. 22, 1891 to Ovid B.Law, wherein a game piece provided with a suitable recess is freelymoveable in a liquid enclosed within a manipulable container to inducethe game piece to settle on and enclose a fixed projection positioned inthe liquid. Other amusement devices of somewhat more remotely analogoustypes are also shown in U.S. Pat. No. 735,269 granted to Thomas K. Keithon Aug. 4, 1903 and in U.S. Pat. No. 2,461,461 granted on Feb. 8, 1949to Ralph D. Young. The novel amusement device forming the subject matterof the present application, which is considered more closely related tothe prior art amusement devices disclosed in the Jeans et al. and Frostpatents than to the amusement devices shown in the other prior artreferences mentioned hereinbefore, is deemed to present more of achallenge to an operator thereof than the amusement devices shown in theJeans et al. and Frost patents, and is believed to be particularlyadvantageous thereover in view of the more sustained interest thatpersons operating the presently disclosed amusement device may beexpected to take therein in meeting such added challenge. On the otherhand, the amusement device herein disclosed, although challenging to anoperator thereof, is not so difficult to operate to attain the desiredobjective as to induce a rapid loss of interest therein based on sheerfrustration, as may well be the case with respect to certain of theother prior art amusement devices mentioned hereinbefore.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the provision of asimple and inexpensive amusement device capable of challenging thepatience and manual dexterity of an operator thereof.

According to the instant invention, the foregoing and other objects areattained by providing a transparent container of the bottle typesubstantially filled with a liquid such as water having a cylindricalgame piece immersed therein; the game piece being somewhat buoyant inthe liquid and therefore being adapted to float upwardly towards theupper surface of the liquid. A tubular operator element extendsdownwardly into the liquid disposed in the container through the upperopening thereinto; the operator element longitudinally moveablyextending through a container opening cap element in substantiallyliquid-tight fashion by means of, for example, a circumscribing O-ringtype sealing element. A lower interior portion of the tubular operatorelement is formed as a recess adapted to substantially snugly receivetherein the cylindrical game piece. A piston connected with a piston rodlongitudinally moveably extending through the tubular operator elementand out of the upper extremity thereof is provided for ejecting thecylindrical game piece from the recess therefor formed in the tubularoperator element once the game piece has been substantially snuglyintroduced thereinto; such being the objective of the amusement device.A plurality of spherical objects about equal in diameter to the diameterof the cylindrical game piece and of about the same degree of buoyancymay also be immersed in the liquid substantially filling the containerto serve as obstacles to make the attainment of the objective of theamusement device more difficult.

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be readily apparent as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the amusement device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional, elevational view of the amusement device, takenon the line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the operator element of theamusement device; and

FIG. 4 is a somewhat schematic pictorial representation of the amusementdevice in use.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like referencenumerals designate the same or identical parts throughout the severalviews, and more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown anamusement device, generally designated by the reference numeral 11.Amusement device 11 includes a transparent container 12 of the bottletype, which may be formed of glass or of a clear plastic material, andwhich is provided with an operationally uppermost neck portion 13 havingan upper terminus defining an opening or inlet/outlet port 14 for thecontainer 12. As shown in the drawing, the container 12 is alsopreferably somewhat constricted in diameter along a portion of thelength thereof at about the vertical midpoint thereof for the purposemore fully set forth hereinafter. The particular configuration of thecontainer 12 shown in the drawing, however, is disclosed for the purposeof illustration rather than of limitation, and may be modified as deemeddesirable.

The opening 14 of the container 12 is closed by a cap element 15 formedof a resilient material such as plastic, as illustrated, or rubber,which conventionally exteriorly engages the outer upper extremity of theneck portion 13 of container 12 in a circumscribing fashion. A centralopening is formed through the portion 16 of the cap element 15 closingthe opening 14 of container 12 and, when the cap element 15 is formed ofa plastic material, as illustrated, this portion 16 of the cap element15 is made sufficiently thick to permit the forming of a medial groovein the opening therethrough in which an O-ring type sealing element 17,preferably formed of rubber or the like, may be seated. When the capelement 15 is formed of rubber, the sealing element 17 may be omitted asunnecessary.

A tubular operator element, generally designated by the referencenumeral 18, extends downwardly into the container 12 through the upperopening 14 thereof. The operator element 18 includes an upperlongitudinal portion 19 having a cylindrical outer surface sufficient indiameter to snugly pass through the sealing element 17 seated in theopening in the portion 16 of cap element 15, when provided, or to snuglypass through the opening in such a portion 16 of a rubber cap elementnot provided with the sealing element 17. The operator element 18 alsoincludes a lower longitudinal portion 21 having a cylindrical outersurface with a diameter about twice that of the upper longitudinalportion 19 thereof. The longitudinal portions 19 and 21 of operatorelement 18, of course, are in longitudinal alignment, and the operatorelement 18 further includes an intermediate portion 22 integrallyinterconnecting the longitudinal portions 19 and 21 thereof; the portion22 of the operator element 18 having an outer surface of truncatedconical form extending only a relatively short distance from the outersurface of the lower extremity of the upper longitudinal portion 19thereof towards the outer surface of the upper extremity of the lowerlongitudinal portion 21 thereof. The tubular operator element has asubstantially uniform wall thickness throughout the length thereof, andis preferably suitably formed of a plastic material, as illustrated.

The operator element 18 is also provided with a piston element 23 oftruncated conical form shaped and sized to be snugly seated within theinterior of the intermediate portion 22 thereof; the piston element 23being integrally interconnected with a piston rod 24 extending therefromthrough the upper longitudinal portion 19 of the operator element 18 andout of the operationally upper extremity thereof. The length of thepiston rod 24 is such that it may be manually grasped adjacent theoperationally upper extremity thereof and moved downwardly through theupper longitudinal portion 19, intermediate portion 22, and lowerlongitudinal portion 21 of the operator element 18 a distance sufficientto move the piston element 23 downwardly to the lower extremity of thelower longitudinal portion 21 of the operator element 18; the piston rod24 then being manually moveable upwardly in reverse fashion to returnthe piston element 23 to its initial position within the intermediateportion 22 of the operator element 18.

The interior of the lower longitudinal portion 21 of the operatorelement 18 defines a cylindrical recess having an open lower end. Asubstantially cylindrical game piece 25 is immersed in a liquid such aswater substantially filling the container 12; the length of game piece25 being substantially equal to the length of the recess defined by thelower longitudinal portion 21 of the operator element 18 and thediameter of the game piece 25 being somewhat smaller than the diameterof such operator element recess. The weight of the game piece 25, whichmay be formed of foamed plastic or the like, is less than the weight ofthe liquid disposed in the container 12 which it displaces when immersedtherein, and the game piece 25 hence tends to float towards the uppersurface of the liquid. Suitable weight means may be imbedded within sucha game piece 25, if deemed desirable, to reduce the buoyancy thereof toa suitable level. A plurality of spherical objects 26 may also beimmersed in the liquid substantially filling the container 12; thespherical objects 26 having a diameter about equal to the diameter ofthe game piece 25 and having about the same level of buoyancy as thegame piece 25.

An operator of the amusement device 11 may grasp the lower portion ofthe container 12 with one hand and may grasp the upper extremity of theupper longitudinal portion 19 of the operator element 18 with the thumband certain of the fingers of the other hand, as illustrated in F IG. 4of the drawing. While so holding the upper longitudinal portion 19 ofthe operator element 18, he may push the operator element 18 downwardlyinto the container 12 to the extent that the lower extremity of thelower longitudinal portion 22 thereof is disposed at about the verticalmidpoint of the container 12, and he may also pull the operator element18 upwardly until the upper extremity of the intermediate portion 22thereof is adjacent the cap element 15. The length of the operatorelement 18 extending into the container 12 within such range oflongitudinal movement may also be swivelled about to bring the lowerextremity of the lower longitudinal portion 22 thereof adjacent theinterior wall of the container 12. The liquid substantially filling thecontainer 12 will not be sloshed out of the opening 14 thereof to anyappreciable extent upon such movement of the operator element 18, due tothe snug fit of the cap element 15, or the O-ring type sealing elementcarried thereby, against the upper longitudinal portion 19 of theoperator element 18 moveably extending therethrough, as set forthhereinbefore.

The operator element 18 of the amusement device 11 may be manipulated,as mentioned hereinbefore, to urge the game piece 25 to move through theliquid in the container 12 until it is in an attitude and position inthe liquid to present one of the ends thereof to the operator elementrecess with the game piece 25 in more or less longitudinal alignmentwith such recess. The operator element 18 may then be further maneuveredto induce the game piece 25 to completely enter the operator elementrecess to attain the objective of the amusement device 11. If thecontainer 12 is somewhat constricted in diameter along a portion of thelength thereof at about the vertical midpoint thereof, as mentionedhereinbefore and as illustrated in the drawing, to the extent that theinner diameter of the container 12 therealong is appreciably less thanthe length of game piece 25, then the game piece 25 will of necessityassume an attitude in which one of the ends thereof is at a higher levelthan the other when it is moved downwardly through the liquid to suchconstricted portion of the container 12 under the urging of operatorelement 18, which could be expected to somewhat facilitate theattainment of the objective of the amusement device 1 1 as hereinbeforeset forth.

Any one or more of the spherical objects 26 could enter the recess inthe operator element 18 while the operator of the amusement device 11 isattempting to induce the game piece 25 to enter such recess. Theoperator of the device 11 would then be forced to operate the piston rod24 to move the piston element 23 through the recess to eject thespherical object or objects 26 therefrom. Inasmuch as the amusementdevice 11 is useable by a number of operators to compete against eachother on the basis of the time taken to successfully attain theobjective thereof, it will be apparent that the provision of thespherical objects 26 as obstacles to the attainment of the objective ofthe amusement device 11 would considerably enhance the difficultiesinvolved.

When an operator of the amusement device 11 has successfully attainedthe objective thereof, the piston rod 24 is moved to cause the pistonelement 23 to eject the game piece 25 from the recess of the operatorelement 18. The ejection of the game piece 25 from such recess, which isthereby readily and easily accomplished without the necessity ofremoving the cap element 15 from container 12 and entirely withdrawingthe operator element 18 from the container 12 which would most likelylead to spillage of liquid therefrom, would otherwise be difficult toaccomplish due to the substantially snug fit of the game piece 25 withinthe recess of the operator element 18.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the foregoing teachings. It is therefore tobe understood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. An amusement device, comprising:

a transparent container filled with a liquid to a preselected level andhaving an opening thereinto adjacent the upper extremity thereof;

a game piece immersed in said liquid, said game piece being sufficientlybuoyant to tend to float towards the upper surface of said liquid;

an operator element extending through said container opening downwardlyinto said container, said operator element having a manually graspableupper extremity operationally positioned above the level of saidcontainer opening, said operator element further having a lower portionoperationally disposed within said container and immersible in saidliquid provided with a downwardly opening recess adapted tosubstantially snugly receive said game piece therein; and

means carried by said operator element operable exteriorly of saidcontainer for ejecting said game piece from said operator elementrecess.

2. The amusement device according to claim 1, wherein said containeropening is substantially closed by a cap element having an openingtherethrough, and wherein said operator element substantially snugly andlongitudinally moveably extends through said cap element opening.

3. The amusement device according to claim 1, wherein said game piece isof substantially cylindrical form and wherein said operator elementrecess is of substantially cylindrical form and about equal in length tothe length of said game piece as well as somewhat larger in diameterthan said game piece.

4. The amusement device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality ofspherical objects corresponding in diameter to the diameter of said gamepiece and corresponding in buoyancy to said game piece are immersed insaid liquid.

5 The amusement device according to claim 1,

wherein said operator element is of tubular form including a tubularupper longitudinal portion having a cylindrical outer surfaceoperationally extending through said container opening and furtherincluding a tubular lower longitudinal portion defining said downwardlyopening recess and having a cylindrical outer surface greater indiameter than the diameter of said outer surface of said upperlongitudinal portion thereof, said upper longitudinal portion of saidoperator element and said lower longitudinal portion thereof being insubstantial longitudinal alignment and being substantially uniform inwall thickness, and wherein said means for ejecting said game piece fromsaid operator element recess includes a piston element moveable in saidrecess between an initial position remote from said recess opening andanother position adjacent said recess opening, said piston element beinginterconnected with a piston rod longitudinally extending through saidtubular upper longitudinal portion of said operator element and out ofthe upper extremity thereof.

6. The amusement device according to claim 5, wherein said game piece isof substantially cylindrical form about equal in length to the length ofsaid operator element recess and smaller in diameter than the diameterof said operator element recess.

7. The amusement device according to claim 6, wherein a plurality ofspherical objects corresponding in diameter to the diameter of said gamepiece and corresponding in buoyancy to said game piece are immersed insaid liquid.

8. The amusement device according to claim 5, wherein said containeropening is substantially closed by a cap element having an openingtherethrough, and wherein said tubular upper longitudinal portion ofsaid operator element substantially snugly and longitudinally moveablyextends through said cap element opening.

9. The amusement device according to claim 8, wherein said game piece isof substantially cylindrical form about equal in length to the length ofsaid operator element recess and smaller in diameter than the diameterof said operator element recess.

10. The amusement device according to claim 9, wherein a plurality ofspherical objects corresponding in diameter to the diameter of said gamepiece and corresponding in buoyancy to said game piece are immersed insaid liquid.

1. An amusement device, comprising: a transparent container filled witha liquid to a preselected level and having an opening thereinto adjacentthe upper extremity thereof; a game piece immersed in said liquid, saidgame piece being sufficiently buoyant to tend to float towards the uppersurface of said liquid; an operator element extending through saidcontainer opening downwardly into said container, said operator elementhaving a manually graspable upper extremity operationally positionedabove the level of said container opening, said operator element furtherhaving a lower portion operationally disposed within said container andimmersible in said liquid provided with a downwardly opening recessadapted to substantially snugly receive said game piece therein; andmeans carried by said operator element operable exteriorly of saidcontainer for ejecting said game piece from said operator elementrecess.
 2. The amusement device according to claim 1, wherein saidcontainer opening is substantially closed by a cap element having anopening therethrough, and wherein said operator element substantiallysnugly and longitudinally moveably extends through said cap elementopening.
 3. The amusement device according to claim 1, wherein said gamepiece is of substantially cylindrical form and wherein said operatorelement recess is of substantially cylindrical form and about equal inlength to the length of said game piece as well as somewhat larger indiameter than said game piece.
 4. The amusement device according toclaim 3, wherein a plurality of spherical objects corresponding indiameter to the diameter of said game piece and corresponding inbuoyancy to said game piece are immersed in said liquid.
 5. Theamusement device according to claim 1, wherein said operator element isof tubular form including a tubular upper longitudinal portion having acylindrical outer surface operationally extending through said containeropening and further including a tubular lower longitudinal portiondefining said downwardly opening recess and having a cylindrical outersurface greater in diameter than the diameter of said outer surface ofsaid upper longitudinal portion thereof, said upper longitudinal portionof said operator element and said lower longitudinal portion thereofbeing in substantial longitudinal alignment and being substantiallyuniform in wall thickness, and wherein said means for ejecting said gamepiece from said operator element recess includes a piston elementmoveable in said recess between an initial position remote from saidrecess opening and another position adjacent said recess opening, saidpiston element being interconnected with a piston rod longitudinallyextending through said tubular upper longitudinal portion of saidoperator element and out of the upper extremity thereof.
 6. Theamusement device according to claim 5, wherein said game piece is ofsubstantially cylindrical form about equal in length to the length ofsaid operator element recess and smaller in diameter than the diameterof said operator element recess.
 7. The amusement device according toclaim 6, wherein a plurality of spherical objects corresponding indiameter to the diameter of said game piece and corresponding inbuoyancy to said game piece are immersed in said liquid.
 8. Theamusement device according to claim 5, wherein said container opening issubstantially closed by a cap element having an opening therethrough,and wherein said tubular upper longitudinal portion of said operatorelement substantially snugly and longitudinally moveably extends throughsaid cap element opening.
 9. The amusement device according to claim 8,wherein said game piece is of substantially cylindrical form about equalin length to the length of said operator element recess and smaller indiameter than the diameter of said operator element recess.
 10. Theamusement device according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of sphericalobjects corresponding in diameter to the diameter of said game piece andcorresponding in buoyancy to said game piece are immersed in saidliquid.